Adrian Ries is a music director, conductor, pianist, arranger, copyist, teacher, and vocal coach based in New York City. Most recently, Adrian served as the music director and keys/conductor of the first national tour of the Tony award-winning musical The Band’s Visit (LA Drama Critics Circle award for Music Direction). Active in New York City, he was also the music director and keys/conductor of Barrow Street Theatre’s record-breaking off-Broadway production of Sweeney Todd.

While on tour, Adrian joined The Visitors as an accordionist and melodica player. The Visitors is an ensemble made up of the musicians of The Band’s Visit that performs music from around the world.

He has served on music teams across the country at esteemed regional theaters such as Pioneer Theatere Company (UT), Gulfshore Playhouse (FL), North Shore Music Theatre (MA), Weathervane Theatre (NH), Axelrod Performing Arts Center (NJ), and Summer Repertory Theatre (CA).

As an arranger, Adrian has crafted shows for The Randy Andys, a retro women’s trio paying homage to the Andrew’s Sisters through today’s greatest hits, in addition to being their music supervisor. He has also arranged and orchestrated for Norwegian Cruise Lines.

Adrian studied piano with Stephen Beus, Susan Keith Gray, and James March, studied fortepiano and early keyboards with Susanne Skyrm and James March, studied conducting with David Holdhusen and Jonathan Shames, and studied organ with Larry Schou.

He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Dakota in piano performance. He also completed a master’s degree in piano performance and pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma. Adrian is a native of South Dakota and collects silly instruments.